Remembrance Service War Memorial Homes at Scraptoft today www.scraptoftparishcouncil.gov.uk/news/2025/11...

Sometimes getting a bunch of writers together is a fab idea (and not just because I was awarded with the Ena Young Poetry Award).

Embroidering Elizabeth Heyrick. How I created a cross-stitch of Elizabeth Heyrick's silhouette: www.elizabethheyrick.org/news/embroid...

Review Request etiquette: emmalee1.wordpress.com/2018/05/30/h.... Don't tag a reviewer publicly on social media: it's not just rude, it's a surefire way of getting rejected.

My review of Carrie Etter's Veer, Oscillate, Rest @shearsmanbooks.bsky.social emmalee1.wordpress.com/2025/10/29/v...

A fabulous list of poetry blogs with thanks to @davebonta.bsky.social

My review of Sarah James' "Darling Blue" @indigodreamspub.bsky.social emmalee1.wordpress.com/2025/10/22/d...

Delighted to receive Southlight issue 38 with 2 of my poems (first stanza of one in the image below):

Our crowdfunder for Up//Roar poems of Queer Resistance is live! This anthology of #LGBTQ+ #poems will be edited by Cherry Potts and Jeremy Dixon (Hazard Press). Help get our tiger roaring! submissions (UK/RoI only) still open til 1st nov www.crowdfunder.co.uk/uproar-poems-of-queer-resistance

#PoemsAbout #BurnForTheCamera starts Friday. Write into overexposure. Lights too hot. Love as theatre. Fame’s funeral. Draft now. Share from Friday. Tag your post. Use Alt Text. Sign up for prompts: shorturl.at/0Xm7A

The 1905 Shoemakers’ Walk is featured in the anthology “Welcome to Leicester” so good to see it featured in the Leicester Gazette. www.leicester.news/the-1905-une...

Delighted to receive issue 101 of Poetry Scotland with my poem Skin was an uncomfortable to inhabit.

Sad news: www.koreaherald.com/article/1059...

Thanks to the team at The Pixel Project:

Elizabeth Heyrick (1769–1831) "Immediate not Gradual Abolition: Or, an Inquiry into the Shortest, Safest, and Most Effectual Means of Getting Rid of West Indian Slavery" Boston: Isaac Knapp, 1838. Elizabeth Heyrick was a British Quaker abolitionist.

Another curated list of poetry blogs:

My poem up at Black Nore Review with thanks to the editor:

Delightful little grump, also known as Honey, celebrating 19 years with us by catching the autumn sun. Originally a rescue, she turns 21 this month.

The brilliant @arachnepress.bsky.social has been spotlighted for #IndieLitMagGala 2025—a solo-run powerhouse publishing inclusive, radical, community-rooted work since 2012. Massive thanks to @emmalee1.bsky.social for the nomination—this one’s richly deserved. Read here: thebrokenspine.co.uk...#IndieLitMagGala

Delighted to see my poem “Small Suns” published with thanks to the editors. thehooghlyreview.com/issues/ficti...

It seems to be #NationalPoetryDay again (#EveryDayIsPoetryDay) on the theme of 'play'. Not being a great writer of cheerful poems, here's one set in a play area published in The Dirigible Balloon www.dirigibleballoon.org/poem/Plans-o...

My review of SuAndi's Leaning against Time @carcanet.bsky.social emmalee1.wordpress.com/2025/10/01/l...

This week in the poetry blogs with @emmalee1.bsky.social @jamesmcconachie1.bsky.social @vanopticon.bsky.social @johnglenday.bsky.social @pi-and-anne.bsky.social @clareshawpoet.bsky.social @alinaetc.bsky.social @suefinch.bsky.social 1/3 www.vianegativa.us/2025/09/poet...

My strangest (in a good way) publication yet: a poetry reed diffuser (peony scent) featuring my poem "You Didn't Name this Storm" (originally published in @thelakepoetry.bsky.social) www.urbanganges.com/product-page...

Lovely review of Voles "Can Spring be Far Behind?" anthology and I get a name check for a poem title: www.writeoutloud.net/public/bloge...

My review of Hannah Hull's Home is a Place that Visits Me from Arachne Press emmalee1.wordpress.com/2025/09/24/h...

BREAKING NEWS: New job role at WEM! 📢 We're hiring a Marketing and Admin Assistant to support our social media and marketing comms, as well as the day-to-day functioning of the wider WEM team. If you're passionate about championing local lit development, we want to hear from you: bit.ly/MARKADMIN

This week in the poetry blogs with @victoriamoul.bsky.social @matriches.bsky.social @shawnalemay.bsky.social @robmclennan.bsky.social @emmalee1.bsky.social @jwikeley.bsky.social @richardjnewman.bsky.social @billymills.bsky.social 1/3 www.vianegativa.us/2025/09/poet...

Free piece of advice to anyone who wishes to source a book review: don't insult the reviewer. Someone approached me wanting a review of a business book. I said I was not going to take up the offer (on a poetry book reviews blog).

**AUDITIONS NOW OPEN TILL SEP 27** Want three of your poems with text and recordings of you reading them to feature in popular online poetry quarterly @iambapoet.com? You now have just 7 days to audition for your place in a wave in either 2026 or 2027. Good luck! 🍀 iambapoet.com/audition

My review of Jayne Stanton's Have they marked you with arrows? Poetry Space emmalee1.wordpress.com/2025/09/17/h...

Delighted to see my poem in Fragmented Voices with thanks to the editors fragmentedvoices.com/2025/09/12/y.... Appropriately, I baked a plum crumble today.

This, sadly, is no surprise. I wish it was. Businesses need to do better and recognise bereavement is different from say a notification of a change of address. www.theguardian.com/money/2025/s....

Another set of curated poetry blogs to read with thanks to @davebonta.bsky.social

Lovely morning at the Mary Linwood Exhibition @leicestermuseums.bsky.social and afternoon at Leicester Writers' Club garden party with thanks to Terri for hosting.

“You’re grinning again,” said Mia as Dan walked into the office. “Holidays are wonderful. I’m never #exhausted by them.” “But you’re in the office.” “I’m going to be taking a longer break in a few months.” “Paternity leave?” Dan was not surprised at Mia’s accurate guess. #vss365

My review of Jorge López Lorente’s Dreamescapes (Alien Buddha Press): emmalee1.wordpress.com/2025/09/10/d...

Leicester Writers' Club will have a stall at the Local Writers' Fair at Central Library on 1 November. Check out the other events on the programme too: you're spoilt for choice www.leicester.gov.uk/your-communi...

It took forever to get the tulips in a vase. Ava watched as she handed Dan the pregnancy test results. “Do you think this is #bearable?” His expression was unreadable, even to her, as he looked. “I didn’t intend,” she stuttered. A broad grin extended across Dan’s face. #vss365

Another great curated list of poetry blogs with thanks to @davebonta.bsky.social

“Flowers,” said Ava, feeling the #wrapper crinkle as she took them from Dan. “You looked as if you needed cheering up.” “Was it that obvious?” Dan kissed her forehead. “There’s something- “Put the tulips in water first.” Ava hoped he didn’t notice her hands shaking. #vss365

Harborough District residents: new poetry and short story competition with chance to become Harborough’s new Poet Laureate or Junior Poet Laureate. Closing date 16 October, details: poetryandprose.org

Anthropic has agreed to pay affected authors a record $1.5 billion in a settlement, following its use of pirated books to train its AI. We'll share more details with members in the coming days.

⏱️ Time is ticking... The deadline for PRIMERS entries is midnight Tuesday 9th September BST Read the full criteria and how to enter here: ninearchespress.com/primers UK poets looking for mentoring and publishing, don't miss out!

“Shouldn’t we try to get Lee-jin into a routine?” said Ari. Jin frowned. “We shouldn’t give him the #power to disrupt everything. He needs to be prepared for childcare & to give me time to work.” “With flexibility,” said Jin. “Of course, but I will be going back to work.” #vss365

Delighted that my poem for children, “Plans on Elizabeth Heyrick Drive” is published with audio in The Dirigible Balloon #ElizabethHeyrickSociety: dirigibleballoon.org/poem/Plans-o...

Delighted that my poem for children, “Imagine a Future Robot” is published with audio in The Dirigible Balloon: dirigibleballoon.org/poem/Imagine...

“You’re blocking the #doorway,” said Ian. Ava grimaced & sat at her desk. “What is it? Not you & Dan surely?” Ava shook her head. “That stalker hasn’t resurfaced?” “No. Cam’s moved on thanks to Mia,” Ava finally spoke. “It could be the best or worst thing to happen to me.” #vss365

Delighted my finalist poem Spring follows Winter was awarded 3rd Olace in the Snow Leopard Conservancy Competition with thanks to the judges

“All OK with you & Mia?” Dan asked, putting 2 pints on the pub table. “Yeah,” said Tom. “You & Ava?” Dan sat. “Holiday blues I think.” “Great weekend away & ordinary life is just too ordinary.” “Yep, there’s every #chance that’s what it is.” Dan’s tone implied otherwise. #vss365